Messenger from Paradise

Once a rogue went to a miser’s house, knowing that the miser was away. He threw himself on the doorway, pretending to be thoroughly exhausted. The miser’s wife saw him and rushed to find out who he was.

“I’m a traveller from paradise,” said the man in a weak voice. “I have been sent by an old couple there who want to find out if their son and daughter-in-law are keeping well.”

“From paradise?” asked the woman, delighted to have such an important visitor. She asked him about the couple and was thrilled to find that they were her own in-laws. Her joy turned to sorrow however, when he told her that they were leading a sad life there.

“The poor things are not given any clothes or food,” said the rogue. “All they get is some water to drink. It’s good you cannot see how miserably they live.”

Moved by the plight of her in-laws, the kind woman went inside and brought some clothes and jewels, put them in a bag and requested the rogue to give it to them.

“Give some hard cash too if you can spare it,” said the cunning man. The woman went inside and took out all the cash from the safe and gave it to the rogue.

Soon after the rogue had left, the miser returned. His wife told him what the messenger from paradise had told her about his parents.

“How can you be so foolish as to believe such a cock and bull story? And how could you give away all our wealth to a total stranger?” he shouted at his wife.

Then mounting his horse, he went in hot pursuit of the rogue. Soon he spotted the man.

The rogue saw the miser and quickly climbed up a tree.

“Come down this minute,” shouted the miser, standing below.

“I’m on my way back to paradise and in a great hurry,” said the rogue continuing to climb higher.

The angry miser began to climb the tree. The rogue waited until the miser was almost near him and then he threw the bag down, and shinned down the tree. Before the miser could reach down, the rogue picked up the bag and rode away on the miser’s horse.

“I’ve been even more foolish than my wife ,” thought the miser sadly as he walked back home.